Fill in the ($16B) blank
MONEY MATTERS — The federal funding cuts coming out of Washington are starting to hit home. But don't expect the state to step in and save the day.
'I want to be clear with the public,' Gov. Maura Healey said on GBH. 'We don't not have enough money … to even begin to make up for the shortfall.'
Instead, Healey has been urging the GOP in Washington to change course. 'There needs to be pressure on Republicans in Congress to stop the madness,' Healey said Wednesday during her monthly interview on GBH's 'Boston Public Radio.' It's a similar message to the one the Democratic governor has been delivering since she started ramping up her rhetoric against President Donald Trump and Elon Musk as the pain of massive federal spending cuts became clearer.
But beyond blasting Trump and Musk from her bully pulpit, Healey hasn't offered many specifics about contingency plans the state has in place. She didn't directly answer a question Monday about whether the state would backfill the roughly $12 million in federal grants for Massachusetts schools that was recently slashed. Asked about a backup plan, she offered no new details. 'We gotta be able to do multiple things at once, and that's why it's really tough right now,' Healey said, before directing criticism back to the White House.
Part of the issue, Senate President Karen Spilka told Playbook at an unrelated event Wednesday, is the whiplash out of Washington.
'It's not by the month or the week or even by the day anymore — the Trump administration is changing what's happening by the hour. Sometimes even within an hour, they reverse course,' she said. 'So it is difficult to create a plan or know how to respond other than outrage and urging all residents to contact the federal delegation.'
GOOD THURSDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. One solution definitely not on the table: pausing the tax relief package the Legislature passed last session. It's 'absolutely not' part of the plan, Healey said almost before host Jim Braude got the question out.
TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey highlights her transportation funding proposal at 10:15 a.m. in Somerville. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll makes an announcement about MA250 at 9:30 a.m. in Plymouth. Auditor Diana DiZoglio attends the Friendly Knights of St. Patrick Scholarship Dinner at 6 p.m. in Lynn. Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks at the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute's Mother's Day Walk For Peace community briefing at 9 a.m. in Beacon Hill and is on Java with Jimmy at noon.
Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Drop me a line: kgarrity@politico.com.
MEANWHILE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
SHAHEEN SHAKEUP — New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen's decision not to seek reelection in 2026 is reverberating every which way.
The prospect of an open Senate seat after Shaheen's unexpected announcement via video Wednesday morning immediately drew interest from candidates from both sides of the aisle. Both Rep. Chris Pappas, long seen as possible successor to Shaheen, and recently-elected Rep. Maggie Goodlander are thinking about giving it a go, and former Rep. Annie Kuster is eyeing the race if Pappas decides against it. From the GOP, former Sen. Scott Brown was already publicly weighing a bid before Shaheen made her announcement, and more names are floating around now that the incumbent is out.
Some Democrats are wary of another expensive primary after bitterly contentious battle between Goodlander and Colin Van Ostern last year. 'We're going to need every dollar that can be raised to retain the seat — and an expensive primary I feel would not be helpful,' Jim Demers, a veteran New Hampshire Democratic strategist, told Playbook. Still, the idea that both congressional seats could be open this cycle is setting off a down-ballot scramble.
In Massachusetts, it means you can likely soon say goodbye to the short reprieve from all the Granite State political ads that bled into Boston's market last year. The Bay State is also already assuming its place as perennial punching bag — this time with Democrats delivering the hits. Shaheen blasted Brown, a former Massachusetts senator, when asked about his potential candidacy in an interview with Semafor.
'He's not from New Hampshire. He hasn't done anything in New Hampshire except pretend like he's bringing candidates into the state,' she told the outlet. 'You ask him, his big accomplishment is he coaches a women's basketball team — and it's in Massachusetts.'
DATELINE BEACON HILL
WHO'S BILL IS IT ANYWAY — A business-backed non-profit is rolling out a new public awareness campaign in an effort to keep the cost of the $2.1 billion tab the state owes the federal government over a pandemic-era unemployment insurance gaffe from falling on businesses.
The group, the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, is unveiling a new website: YouBrokeItYouFixIt.com, which warns visitors that 'without a fix to the system, Massachusetts employers will see a tax hike on top of the already high rates they pay,' while pointing to polling the organization recently commissioned. There's also a form for people to contact their lawmakers.
'Businesses should not bear the financial burden of repaying a debt they didn't cause,' the website reads. 'If the state government broke it, the government should be the ones to fix our state's UI system.'
Businesses won't see a hike on unemployment insurance rates through at least 2026, Gov. Maura Healey's office said when they announced the deal to pay back the funds that were misspent under former Gov. Charlie Baker. Whether or not they will after depends on what fixes are made to the struggling UI system.
— 'Gov. Maura Healey says she is open to banning competitive electric suppliers,' by Chris Van. Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'Gov. Maura Healey said she is open to a ban on competitive electric suppliers in Massachusetts, an industry that supporters say promotes consumer choice but critics argue locks customers into contracts that can eventually lead to higher energy bills. The first-term Democrat has long railed against the competitive electric supply market as one that overcharges consumers and violates consumer protection laws. After a radio interview Wednesday, Healey said she will 'support efforts to hold them accountable.''
— 'Disability advocates rally against proposed cap on in-home aides,' by Meghan Smith, GBH News: 'Hundreds of disability advocates gathered at the State House in Boston Wednesday for a rally to support the state program that provides caregivers to help people with disabilities and seniors live at home instead of in nursing facilities. The Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program — part of MassHealth — serves more than 50,000 people across the state, but Gov. Maura Healey is eyeing caps in next year's budget that would slow the growth of the program.'
FROM THE HUB
— 'As Trump attacks transgender people, city council declares Boston a 'sanctuary city' for the LGBTQ+ community,' by Niki Griswold, The Boston Globe: 'The Boston City Council proclaimed Boston to be a haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community Wednesday in light of President Trump and his administration's attacks on transgender people and gender affirming healthcare. Councilors Julia Mejia and Liz Breadon, the city's first openly gay woman to be elected to the council, filed a resolution to declare Boston a 'sanctuary city' for the LGBTQIA2s+ population. The council voted 12-1 to approve the proposal at its Wednesday meeting. Councilor Ed Flynn was the sole member to vote against it, saying he supports the LGBTQ+ population but wanted to learn more about how the resolution would affect city services and departments.'
— '7 Boston cops earned more than $500,000 last year,' by Jesús Marrero Suárez, WBUR: 'Employees at the Boston Police Department garnered the highest pay among city staff in 2024, with seven earning more than a half a million dollars. The city's payroll data show, out of its top 100 earners, 91 worked for the Boston police and each made more than $380,000 when combining their base pay, overtime, retroactive pay and other compensation.'
— 'BPS failing to improve academic outcomes despite state intervention, watchdog report finds,' by Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald.
— 'New Jamaica Plain housing project supports people coming out of homelessness,' Robert Goulston, GBH News.
PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES
— 'Fare jumpers, think twice. Your days are numbered, MBTA boss Phillip Eng says,' by John L. Micek, MassLive: 'If you've ever skipped out on paying your fare for an MBTA bus, subway or commuter rail train, enjoy it while you can. Those days may soon be at an end. From 'fare engagement' officers to new commuter rail fare gates at the South Station and Back Bay stops, the regional transit agency is doing everything it can to capture the revenue that keeps the doors open and the train rolling, MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng said Wednesday.'
DAY IN COURT
— 'Harvard Medical School doctors sue Trump administration to restore censored articles,' by Phillip Martin, GBH News: 'Doctors from Harvard Medical School on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration contesting the disappearance of certain articles from a government-run website meant for medical researchers. The group claims the federal government deleted papers including words like 'LGBTQ' and 'trans' from the Patient Safety Network, a website meant to help doctors share research about medical errors, patient outcomes and misdiagnoses.'
— 'Fifth town sues state over MBTA Communities Act,' by Hannah Morse, The Patriot Ledger: 'Hanson is now the fifth community to sue Massachusetts after the state auditor's office last month determined that the MBTA Communities Act amounted to an 'unfunded mandate' for some. In a statement issued Monday, the select board said the lawsuit was 'the most practical and fiscally responsible way' to get the state to provide the fiscal impact of the 2021 housing law. The town also wants to be made exempt from complying with the law until the state pays for the cost of compliance.'
FROM THE 413
— 'Northampton City Council censures Rothenberg over storm call,' by Alexander MacDougall, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'The City Council censured Ward 3 Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg at a special meeting on Wednesday for her conduct during a dispatch call in which she tried to obtain emergency contact numbers for the city's Department of Public Works. All but Ward 4 Councilor Jeremy Dubs and Rothenberg, who was not present for the vote after briefly logging on to the virtual meeting and recusing herself, voted in favor of the censure. The move is designed to show the council's disapproval of Rothenberg's actions, but it does not prevent her from continuing to serve on the council or any of its subcommittees.'
THE LOCAL ANGLE
— 'New England schools and food programs take 'devastating' hit after USDA funding cuts,' by Amanda Gokee and John Hilliard, The Boston Globe.
— 'UMass medical school implements hiring and spending freeze, considers layoffs,' by Deborah Becker, WBUR: 'Leaders at UMass Chan Medical School are freezing hiring and discretionary spending, citing ongoing uncertainty surrounding federal funding. School administrators also said targeted furloughs and layoffs are 'going to be necessary.' In a memo sent to employees Tuesday, UMass administrators said the school continues to advocate for federal funding, but leaders must take steps to protect against steep financial losses. The hiring and spending freezes go into effect immediately.'
— 'Corriveau running in Peabody's at-large race,' by Caroline Enos, The Salem News: 'Jaclyn Corriveau announced Tuesday she's running for an at-large seat on the City Council now that nomination papers are available for this fall's city election. Corriveau, 34, is a lifelong Peabody resident, a district manager for Automatic Data Processing Inc. and the Republican State Committee chairwoman for the 2nd Essex District. She unsuccessfully ran for state representative in 2016 and the City Council Ward 2 seat in 2019.'
— 'Fall River to use MCAS, but not for graduation — and reconsider those who didn't graduate,' by Emily Scherny, The Herald News: 'Fall River Public Schools will still implement the MCAS test this school year, even though a state ballot measure passed to eliminate MCAS as a graduation requirement. Because MCAS test scores may have kept students from crossing the stage between 2003 and 2024, the school district will confer diplomas to any student who met all other graduation requirements after a full transcript review is conducted.'
HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH
HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Diamond Naga Siu and Madison Colburn.
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